Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Perhaps this is because I rarely "see" the main character. When I read, I wriggle down into their skin and become them. So unless they're looking in a mirror, I don't give much thought to their eye color or face shape or hair color unless it's some intrinsic part of the plot of the book.

Consequently, since I don't care much about appearance as a reader, I don't spend too much time on the appearance of my own characters except when it is something one of my characters is focused on (for instance, in the case of one character analyzing another because they are attracted to that character, or trying to figure out their origins, etc). I guess to me, those kinds of things are secondary to personality. I do try to put in SOME descriptions for the sake of everyone who likes that kind of thing, though. :)

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Today I've been doing lots of last minute things...like checking formatting and uploading files! Weavers should be available for purchase in all the usual places--Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords--in just a few days. I will let you know via this blog as well as through the new releases newsletter, so be sure to check back here or sign up for that newsletter if you're eager to get your hands on a copy.

Thank you to everyone who has messaged, emailed, or tweeted me about your excitement for Weavers. You guys mean so much to me. Seriously. You are all the best. I really hope you love the book, and I can't wait for you all to read it.

The boards
of the Mayor’s house gleamed the color of bleached bone in the pale sunlight,
and dagger-like icicles glittered along the roof. Even the footprints left by
soldiers’ boots looked like ugly scars. Everything about the house felt
dangerous now.

I held my
breath as I climbed the back steps and rapped three times on the door.

A servant
opened it. She regarded me with a frown. “Yes?”

The
password. Ann would recognize it and know I needed to see her. “I—I need to
show Ann Mayor some yarn,” I said. “I’m Lia Weaver.”

The girl
shook her head. “I’m sorry, but she cannot see you now. You’ll have to come
back.”

Then she
shut the door in my face.

I knocked
again, and this time, when the girl opened the door I pushed against it.

“Hey!” She
threw up an arm to block me.

“I have
something to tell Ann Mayor. She will be angry when she finds out that you
wouldn’t—”

“Let the
girl in,” a voice purred, and I froze.

Korr.

There you go...another short little teaser! I'm going to have more news about the release date very soon, and good news--it's going to be earlier than I expected! So stay tuned!

It was too dark to make out the wagon
tracks that crisscrossed the frozen dirt like scars on a mangled cheek, but I
knew they were there because the sight of them was branded in my memory
forever. Soldiers carted prisoners along this road all year long. From one such
wagon, Gabe had escaped across the river and into the Frost. The wind blew
against my cheeks, teasing water from my eyes.

Adam’s hand brushed my shoulder—a
single, light touch. A question. Was I ready? The moonlight glinted off his
eyes. In response to his unspoken words, I stepped forward into the field
toward the road.I was ready.

We reached the river. Here the sky
loomed over us, steel gray and too big, and I shivered. I couldn’t feel safe
under such a large sky after a life beneath the trees. The water glittered like
ink as it glided past, smooth and unstoppable. Once this river had formed the
boundary between the Frost and Aeralis, the place the Farthers would not cross.
But no longer. Now they had spilled over into our land, bringing with them
their oiled weapons, their crude mechanical technology, their glove-clad
cruelty.

Adam crouched beside the water and dug
another small hole. He filled it with supplies and marked the place by drawing
the Thorns symbol on the trunk of a sapling above it.

I stared across the river at the road
as he worked. The sense of danger I felt looking at it mingled with a sudden,
intense need to stand in the place where so many others had made their escape.
I turned and scanned the bank of the river.

There—a fallen tree stretched across a
shallow point like a bridge. I jogged down the bank and scrambled up the roots.
My heart galloped. My mouth was dry. I grasped the rough bark of the tree and
hauled myself up.

Adam followed at my back like a
shadow. I expected him to grab my arm, hiss in my ear to stop, to tell me to
wait for him while he crossed alone. But he didn’t.

The tree trembled as I crossed it, but
it bore my weight easily. I reached the other side and jumped down. The Frost
was at my back. Aeralis’ border was before me. A shiver spread over my skin. I
tingled from my scalp to my fingertips. I’d never been on this side of the
river.

Adam landed beside me. I caught the
flash of his quick smile in the blackness.

“I just wanted—” I began.

His voice was just a tickle in my ear.
“You’ve never been across the river, have you?”

The warmth of his breath against my
skin made me flush. I nodded and moved away an inch. There was a tension
between us now, a dance of avoided topics and guarded looks. Perhaps the unlikely
attraction had always been there, lurking just beneath the surface. But since
I’d almost kissed him in the barn a few weeks ago, the feelings had grown into
a thrumming heat that filled every word, every look, every interaction. I
didn’t know how to deal with it. He’d become woven into the fabric of my
existence, mingled with the air I breathed. If I reached out, he was there. If
I spoke, he answered.

Yet we were separated by a gulf of
unspoken feeling that neither of us would express.

Well there you have it, folks. A short little bit of a scene between Adam and Lia. Hope you enjoyed :) And before to look for Weavers in stores at the end of January!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Ladies and Gentlemen... some more news regarding the next book in The Frost Chronicles!

We have a COVER REVEAL for my next book!

Weavers, the third book the The Frost Chronicles series, releases in just a few weeks. I'm super excited about it, and I hope you guys are, too.

So without further ado, here is the cover!

* drumroll *

I really liked the way this one turned out, and I'm rather proud of it. Like all my covers, I designed it myself, which is my favorite part of the entire independent author process.

And here's the book summary again...Every day, life in the Frost grows increasingly perilous for its inhabitants. The Farther occupation continues, and food is becoming scarce. And Lia Weaver’s family is facing increasing perils, too—Jonn pushes his health to the brink as he works to uncover the secrets of Echlos, and Ivy risks everything to get food for the family. And for the second time, the Weaver family is harboring a fugitive, but Lia doesn’t trust her.

Lia has personally braved many struggles—a Farther occupation, family secrets, a heart torn between two men, and Watcher attacks—as she struggles to keep her family safe. But now she will face her greatest challenge and uncover the Frost’s deepest secrets as she completes her most dangerous mission yet for the Thorns.

It's pretty short, because I don't want to give ANYTHING away. Lots of
really awesome stuff happens in this one, folks. :) :) I'm so excited
for you guys to read it!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

I looooooove goals. For me, there's something about writing down the things that motivates me to accomplish them Also, I'm a list-maker. I make lists about what I need to do for the day and the week, and they help me stay focused. And every year, I make a big long list of new year's goals.

About half of my new year's goals are personal and half are professional. I seal them up in an envelope and put the envelope in a box. Then at the end of the year, my husband and I pull out the list and go over it to see what I accomplished. I actually get really excited about seeing the list...it's kind of like a very mild version of Christmas for me, because I love being able to check things off the list.

This year, I have several "reading related" goals in addition to many goals regarding books I want to finish writing and publish. Last year I read 5 books on the writing craft, and I want to do that again this year. I never want to stop striving to be a better writer, and reading books on craft is one way to improve my skills.

Another one of my goals is to read 12 nonfiction books. I'm already halfway through the first one for the year, a book called Learned Optimism. So far I'm really enjoying it, even though it's not the kind of thing I'd pick up on my own (a friend recommended it). I have a few other "self help" style books lined up to read after I'm done with this one, and after that I'm going to scour the bestseller lists for whatever looks interesting.

I'm more of a fiction girl myself, but nonfiction is really enriching and I'm always glad when I read it. Last year I read (and loved) Half the Sky, so if anyone has a similar goal of reading more nonfiction, I recommend that one first.

Do you guys ever make any goals or resolutions about reading (or writing)? Does making goals help you the way it helps me?

Monday, January 7, 2013

Well, it's allllllmost that time. Weavers, book #3 in The Frost Chronicles, releases in several weeks! I don't have an exact date yet, but when I do, I'll let you all know. In the coming days and weeks up until that time, I'm going to be releasing some fun teasers and spoilers to get you guys excited about the book.

Today, we have a SUMMARY.Every day, life in the Frost grows increasingly perilous for its inhabitants. The Farther occupation continues, and food is becoming scarce. And Lia Weaver’s family is facing increasing perils, too—Jonn pushes his health to the brink as he works to uncover the secrets of Echlos, and Ivy risks everything to get food for the family. And for the second time, the Weaver family is harboring a fugitive, but Lia doesn’t trust her.

Lia has personally braved many struggles—a Farther occupation, family secrets, a heart torn between two men, and Watcher attacks—as she struggles to keep her family safe. But now she will face her greatest challenge and uncover the Frost’s deepest secrets as she completes her most dangerous mission yet for the Thorns.

It is very short and very vague because I don't want to give anything away!!! But let me say this--lots of really awesome stuff happens in this one, folks. A couple of big questions get answered. You'll find out more about:

-the Weaver family (what other secrets does Lia's family have in their past?)
-the Watchers (where did they come from, anyway?)
-the snow blossoms (why do they bloom in the snow? Why do they turn the Watchers away?)
-much more!

So stay tuned for more goodies in the coming weeks...a cover reveal, excerpts from the book, and more.

Seriously, though. I am soooooooooo glad to be (mostly) done with it and I'm so excited for all of you to get to read it. This week I'll reveal the cover and synopsis and maybe release a few short teases leading up to the release itself. The book will be available in stores sometime in mid to late January. I'm not sure on the exact date right now, so if you want to be sure to grab a copy the day it's available, sign up for my new releases newsletter here.

Fantasy, romance, and masked men!

Dragons, steampunk, magic...

Creepy Fantasy-Dystopian YA

BUY FROST NOW!

About Kate Avery Ellison

When I'm not writing, I enjoy watching TV, playing video games, and eating ice cream cake. While it’s true that I'm working on a zombie novel (that will come out SOMEDAY, I PROMISE), don’t let that fool you. I am decidedly TEAM UNICORN.